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Woody Biomass Mobilization for Bioenergy in a Constrained Landscape: A Case Study from Cold Lake First Nations in Alberta, Canada

Author

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  • Nicolas Mansuy

    (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, 5320 122 st., Edmonton, AB T6H 3S5, Canada)

  • Diana Staley

    (Dianalytics, Edmonton, AB T6H 3S5, Canada)

  • Leila Taheriazad

    (Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada)

Abstract

Wood-based bioenergy systems developed and managed by Indigenous communities can improve their ability to thrive and grow economically and socially and improve their resource-based decision-making processes. In this study, we collaborated with Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN), a community located in Northern Alberta, Canada, to investigate the opportunities and challenges of biomass mobilization from different feedstocks. Based on remote sensing and ground data, harvest residue and fire residue feedstocks were identified within the boundaries of the community and inside a radius of 200 km at 18 and 39 oven-dry metric tonnes (odt)/ha, respectively. CLFN also received woody biomass from local oil and gas producers that operate in their traditional territory, which is estimated at 19,000 odt/year. Despite being abundant, the woody biomass is difficult to access due to the extensive human footprint that surrounds the area and constrains the landscape. In terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, the potential also appears limited because the community has access to natural gas at a competitive and stable price, unlike off-grid communities. In terms of cost savings, the low oil and gas prices make the biomass resources (pellets) less competitive to utilize than the natural gas that is available in the community.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Mansuy & Diana Staley & Leila Taheriazad, 2020. "Woody Biomass Mobilization for Bioenergy in a Constrained Landscape: A Case Study from Cold Lake First Nations in Alberta, Canada," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-18, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:23:p:6289-:d:453091
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicolas Mansuy & Julie Barrette & Jérôme Laganière & Warren Mabee & David Paré & Shuva Gautam & Evelyne Thiffault & Saeed Ghafghazi, 2018. "Salvage harvesting for bioenergy in Canada: From sustainable and integrated supply chain to climate change mitigation," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(5), September.
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    3. Mansuy, Nicolas & Thiffault, Evelyne & Lemieux, Sébastien & Manka, Francis & Paré, David & Lebel, Luc, 2015. "Sustainable biomass supply chains from salvage logging of fire-killed stands: A case study for wood pellet production in eastern Canada," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 62-73.
    4. Krupa, Joel, 2012. "Identifying barriers to aboriginal renewable energy deployment in Canada," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 710-714.
    5. Melanie Zurba & Dominic Stucker & Grace Mwaura & Catie Burlando & Archi Rastogi & Shalini Dhyani & Rebecca Koss, 2020. "Intergenerational Dialogue, Collaboration, Learning, and Decision-Making in Global Environmental Governance: The Case of the IUCN Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-19, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Buss & Nicolas Mansuy & Sebnem Madrali, 2021. "De-Risking Wood-Based Bioenergy Development in Remote and Indigenous Communities in Canada," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Di Letizia, Gerardo & De Lucia, Caterina & Pazienza, Pasquale & Cappelletti, Giulio Mario, 2023. "Forest bioeconomy at regional scale: A systematic literature review and future policy perspectives," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Vikas Menghwani & Rory Wheat & Bobbie Balicki & Greg Poelzer & Bram Noble & Nicolas Mansuy, 2023. "Bioenergy for Community Energy Security in Canada: Challenges in the Business Ecosystem," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-15, February.
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    5. Shohre Khoddami & Fereshteh Mafakheri & Yong Zeng, 2021. "A System Dynamics Approach to Comparative Analysis of Biomass Supply Chain Coordination Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-35, May.

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